Perforating and recording machine.



No. 659,053. Patented Oct. 2, I900. a. H. DAVIS.

PERFORATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 2, 1896.)

4 Sheets-Shoot I.

(No Model.)

/ ATTORNEYS THE mums PETERS co. PHOTO-LH'HQ. WASHWGTCH, o. c.

No. 659,053. Patented Oct. 2, I900. G. H. DAVIS.

PERFOHATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 2, 1896.)

4 Shoatr-Slunt 2.

(No-Model.)

INVENTOR QM/K ATTORNEYZS Patented Oct. 2, I900.

4 Shoats8haat 3.

ATTORNEYS G. H. DAVIS. PERFORATING AND REGOBDINGIACHINE.

(Applicltion filed Sept. 2, 1896.)

(No Model.)

cams PE THE N wnmsszs. [4%/ No. 659,053. Patented Oct. 2, 1900. a. H.DAVIS. PERFORATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Sept. 2, 1896.)

4 Shoots-Shoat 4.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT Gr mes,

GEORGE HOIVLETT DAVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PERFORATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 659,053. dated O tober2, 1900.

Application filed September 2,1896. serial No. 604,608. \No model.)

To (.LZZ whom it nut cancer-1t:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new, useful, and valuable Improvement inElectric Perforating and Recording Machines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact. description.

My presentinvention relates to electric perforating and recordingmachines, and particularly to that class of perforating-machinesdesigned to perforate music-sheet paper for use with automaticinstruments.

My invention has for its objects, first, to provide, in connection withthe perforating mechanism, means for accurately recording theperformance of a pianist and produce paper perforated in exactaccordance with the depression of the keys of the piano connectedthereto; second, to provide an endless automatic apron-feed for use whena number of thicknesses of paper are being out or perforated at onetime; third, to provide a novel form of contact device for use inreproducing a number of copies from an ordinary perforated sheet orstencil; fourth, to provide a new form of electromagnetic mechanism foractuating the draw-bars or dogs; and, fifth, to provide othernovelconstructions and com binations of parts, such as will be hereinafterdescribed.

I do not claim in the present application the combination with a pianoof a perforatingmachine with locking device for the punches and meansconnecting the keys and locking devices for producing a perforatedmusicsheet simultaneously with the depression of the keys of the piano,as such a combination is claimed in my copendingapplicat-iomSerial No.630,593,filed August 8,1899. Ihave made several previous applications inthis class, and perforating-machines built upon designs thereindisclosed are now in use; but these and other like machines have more orless serious defects, of which I will recite a few and state how Iovercame them.

In perforating-m achines now in use for manufacturing perforatedmusic-paper nearly all employ an aproirfeed three or four times longerthan my present one and the clamps for securing the paper requirechanging by hand or the attention of a man, and this changing of clampsusually results in a slight dis-arrangement of the numerous sheets of paper held thereby, whereas my present-apronfeed is extremelysmall, onlyeighteen inches in length, is entirely automatic, thus saving theservices of a man, and the paper is clamped uniformly by the automaticclamp without danger of disarrangement. In some of theseperforating-machines an extremely large and clumsy stencil is requiredto actuate the dogs 6., a special stencil many times thicker, wider, andlonger than the reproduced perforated sheetorcommercialmusic-rollswhereas with my present machine one of these commercialmusic-rolls can be run through the contact device of my machine and asmany as thirty copies reproduced therefrom in each operation, thussaving an immense amount of space, money,and time in making, storing,and handling the special stencils.

In the former machines of my own design a comparatively large amount ofelectric current was required to properly actuate the magnets, which wasotherwise objectionable, because it caused too great aspark upon thestencil, breaking the circuit at the contact de vice, and because itprevented obtaining a perfect record from the operation of pianokeysconnected thereto, owing to the sticking of the key-contact at the timeof breaking circuit, whereas with my present magnets fully eight-tenthsof the current formerly used is saved and sticking prevented, owing tothe current being cut down to almost nothing before the current isbroken.

One Objection which I have sought to overcome in the present machine,which has been found in some of the perforators now in use, was thewearing of the cutting edges of the punches. This was occasioned by thewear of the reciprocating punch-plate in itsgnides, which permitted thepunches to getslightly out of register with the holes in the die-block,over which the paper was fed, so that the punches rapidly wore bycontact with the block. In the present machine the lower ends of thepunches are accurately guided to the holes in the die-blockindependently of any wear of the punch-carrying frame in its guides, andin mypresent machine the ragged chine.

cutting heretofore resulting from the above causes is entirely overcome,enabling my machine to out clean for a much longer time than in anymachine heretofore used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of mycomplete machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of mycontact device. Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the left-hand halfof the ma- Fig. at is a longitudinal section of the endless automaticapron-feed. Fig. 5 is an end view of same. Fig. 6 is a transversesection of a cross clamp-plate. Fig. 7 is a view of the bottom of one end of a top clam p-piece. Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, ofmy economy magnet. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of my rack-makingmechanism.

Proceeding with a detailed description of my invention, I will firsttake up my punch and die mechanism and its operating mechanism. (SeeFig. 3.) The former consists, primarily, of the die-plate 1, in which ismade a series of holes 2 and rigidly secured to the bed 3. Said holes 2are enlarged or reamed out at the bottom and lie over a slot 5, made insaid bed 3, and through which the punchings or Waste fall. The lowerpart of the die-block 6 is rigidly secured at either end to saiddie-plate 1. so as to leave a narrow space or slot 7 between it and thedieplate 1. The lowerend of each punch 8 rests in one of the holes madethrough the lower die-block 6, and its upper end passes through theupper punch-plate 9, and its cap 10 normally rests upon the bottom ofthe slot 11, made in said upper punch-plate, which latter is secured tothe bottom of the frame 12, itself attached to the slide-blocks 13 andreciprocated by the pitman-arms 14:, pivotally secured to saidslide-blocks at their lower ends and given motion by the eccentrics 15,rigidly secured to the shaft 16, which is revolved from any suitablemotive power. Resting in horizontal slots made in said frame 12 are aseries of draw-bars or dogs 17, having centrally-located recesses 18,which normally stand over the tops or caps 11 of the punches 8. The rearend of said recesses 18 are beveled, as shown, and to the front ends ofsaid dogs are hooked the looped ends of the rods 19, extending to andadjustabiy secured to the lower ends of the armatures 20, the latterbeing hinged upon the cleats 21, as shown.

The main magnets 22 are peculiarly wound and constructed, as clearlyshown in S, where one of the magnet-coils is shown in section, it being,understood, of course, that the other coil is similarly wound, theirnovel features consisting mainly of compound-wound spools, one windingbeing of large wire 23 and the other of comparatively fine wire 24, thelatter so wound as to occupy the spaces left between the larger wires,as shown in Fig. 8, and acts as a resistance and greatly reduces thecurrent when thrown into series with the larger wire in any suitablemanner.

This is accomplished in this instance by the armature 2O forcing the rod25 against the contactspring 26 and separating the latter from thecontact-point 27 about the time the armature has completed its movement.and is in proximity to the poles or heads of its magnet 22, therebycausing the current to again traverse the magnet through the fine wire24-, as well as through the large wire 23, in order to reach theterminal 28, the short circuit thereto having been interrupted themoment the spring 26 is forced away from the contact 27, as heretoforedescribed. In a perforatingmachine the magnets are frequently keptenergized for a comparatively long time in order to keep the punch setto produce the long slots in the paper representingsustained notes inmusic, and with an ordinary magnet the same amount of current wouldcontinue to pass through it during its entire period of energization aswas required to first attract the armature and setits punch. After theinitial movement of the armature little or no power is required to keepthe punch set, and therefore the continuation of the maximum current isagreat waste of electrical energy, while with my new form ofeconomy-magnets the current is reduced to about one-tenth after themagnet has done its heaviest work or its armature made its initialmovement. An immense saving of current is not only thus effected, butthe spark at the point of breaking contact is reduced one-tenth, andwhether this be at the piano or copying contact device this is a decidedadvantage and removes several almost fatal objections heretoforeexisting in the class of machines. 6., the sticking and burning ofcontacts on the breaking of a heavy circuit and also running the slotstogether when recording piano performances, as well as charring the thinpaper used as a stencil on the copying device.

In order to produce slots in the paper being perforated which arerelatively shorter than the time of contact at the piano-key, I employthe relay-magnets 29 and connect them direct to the piano-key contacts30 and so adjust the magnet-contact screws 31 as to complete the circuittherethrough and through the main magnets 22 practically only when thearmature 33 of the relay-magnets is in actual contact with itsmagnet-heads. The circuit through the main magnet and the set of thepunch is only shortened the infinitesimally short time it requiresforthe armature to move forward; but as the punches must be set orlocked and unlocked two thousand two hundred times per minute, which isthe speed of revolution found necessary to record piano performances,even such infinitesimal periods of time are appreciable. An importantadvantage of the relay-magnets also results from their power to make andbreak the main-line circuits promptly and positively, whereas it wouldbe impracticable to change the touch of a piano key 34 sufficiently todo this. When my economy-magnets are employed on the main circuits, theuse of the relay-magnets is not so essential as when ordinary magnetsare used, for the reason that the economymagnets, as stated above, soreduce the current flowing through the punch setting and holding deviceas to eliminate the danger of sparking under the influence of a heavycurrent and the objections thereto, and therefore the necessity of therapid making and breaking of the circuit which the relay gives is not soessential, for the piano-key movement will under these conditions besufficiently rapid to give movement to the circuit-closing device whichcuts into circuit the punch-controlling magnets.

The advantage of securing a perforated sheet with the slotscomparatively shorter than the time of the corresponding depression ofthe piano-keys 34 is that it is very easy to afterward lengthen anyslots which may require it, owing to there being plenty of paper orbridge between the slots or notes. If, however, the slots are relativelylonger, even to the slightest degree, than the time of correspondingcontacts made by the depression of the piano-keys, then the slots runtogether frequently when a performer trills or rapidly repeats aparticular note which would render it necessary to paste strips of paperon the music-sheet to separate all such slots, and this is foundimpracticable. This running together of the slots is obviated byemploying either the relay-magnets on the piano-circuit or myeconomy-magnets on the main circuits. The economy-magnets obviate arunning together of the slots, because at the time the circuit is brokenthe current through the fine wire is so small or weak as to cause nosticking of the contacts at the time of breaking the circuit, it beingwell known that when a heavy current is passing through contacts thereis a tendency to retard the break, such action being technically calleda stick, and this effect is very apparent with such delicate contacts asare used in this device. If the breaking of contacts is retarded, thennecessarily the magnets keep the punch locked longer than required, andthus cause a running together of the slots.

When only one thickness of paper is to be perforated at an operation, aswhen recording a piano performance or making a trial stencil, I preferto Wind it upon a large supply-spool 35 and lead it between the lowerpunclrplate (land the die-plate 1 and from thence between the lower orlive feed-roller 36 and the upper or presser roller 37, which latter isadjusted in any suitable manner to press the single sheet between it andthe live roller. Said live roller 36 is revolved by means of aratchet-wheel 3S, engaged by the pawl 39, pivoted upon a branch 40 ofthe arm 41, said arm beinggiven a reciprocating movement by theconnectingrod 42, working on an eccentric 43, fixed onthe shaft 16, andso l i l paper a forward movement of about onetwentieth of an inch atthetime the reciprocating frame 12 is raised and the punches are alsoraised free of the paper. This step-bystep movement continues at thesame rapid but uniform rate as the revolution of the shaft 10, a stepbeing made for each revolution, which in recording a piano performanceis generally two thousand three hundred times per minute; but induplicating or man ufacturing the speed is reduced to about one thousandrevolutions, as sixteen or more sheets are then perforated at eachoperation and the circuits through the main magnets 22 are thencompleted through the copying contact 44. Said cont-act device 44, whichis actuated by the stencil, may be attached to any suitable part of theperforating-machine, as shown at Fig. 1, or it may be located anydistance therefrom. It consists of two members, a revolublecontact-roller and a series of metal contact figures or selectors 46,which bearon theroller and are pivoted upon a non-conducting rod 47, allset in and supported by the frame 48, having a slotted bar 49 across itsfront, in which the selectors rest and are guided or prevented fromwabbling at their free ends 50. The contacting ends or surfaces 51 ofthe selectors 46 are curved, so as to rest perfectly true upon thecontactroller 45, which shape they will assume perfectly after a littlewear, and said ends 51 are very carefully cut, so as that they arenearly equal in width to the diameter of the punches 8. The differencebetween the width of the contact-face of these selectors 46 and thediameter of one of the punches S or a single perforation made in thestencil 52 by said punches is generally one-twentieth of an inch,whichis the extent of a single step in the stencil-feeding movement, thuspractically insuring that the selectors do not miss falling intoeach andevery si ngle perforation and form contact (1 u 1'- ing the time of onestep of the stencil 52, but yet makes them too wide to continue contactduring two steps of the stencil. The object of making the contactingfaces of the select ing-fingers of the width described may be bestunderstood by tirst imagining their faces to be sharp, like a pin, inwhich case they would form contact during two or three feed movements ofthe stencil. Next imagine the contact-faces to be the same width as thediameter of a single punch-hole, in which case there would be nocertainty that the face of the finger would be left in contact when thesingle holes recur unless the stenoil was fed by rack-holes. Thereforewhen the sten oil-sheet is fed forward by means such as rollers it isnecessary to determine a width for the contact-lingers which will alwaysform contact during one step of the stencil and yet be thrown out ofcontact by the imperforate portion of t he sheet upon the second step.NVhen said stencil is fed forward step by step simply between rollers,such as 45 53,(shown set as to receive the roller 36 and give the atFig. 2,) it is impossible to prevent a gain or loss occasionally betweenthe steps of onetwentieth of an inch given the stencil with onlycomparative accuracy on the perforating-machine when originally cut andthat given it by the presser-rollers of the contact device. The latterwould have only to work inaccurately the one one-thousandth part of aninch each step to cause the stencil to lose or gain a step about everyfour feet, and the stretching or swelling of the paper-stock of thestencil is always sufficient to alone effect this slight inaccuracywhich would in actual time only effect a note the one fourteen-hundredthpart of a minute once in about every four feet. This would besufficiently accurate for ordinary purposes, and under this system itwould be possible to employ as a stencil any one of the thin papermusic-rolls sold for use with such automatic instruments as the aeolianand reproduce therefrom any number of copies, running about sixteenthicknesses of paper through the perforator proper while the singlesheet is traveling in unison therewith through the copying contactdevice. The copying contact device just described is in circuit with thepunch-controlling magnets 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and a switchis shown by means of which the circuit through the copying contactdevice may be broken when the magnets and perforating mechanism are tobe operated by the key mechanism 84 of the piano and not through thestencil 52 and its operating mechanism.

In order to avoid the slight inaccuracy between the stencil and thesheets perforated therefrom and produce in the latter identically thesame number of perforations as was originally made in the stencil, Imake in any suitable manner a series of equidistant holes or racks 5d ateither edge of the stencil 52,each of said rack-holes being made exactlyin line transversely with the stepped punchholes or position ofpunch-holes of the pcrforator and separated at prearranged intervals.Forinstance, a rack-hole would be made on either side of the sheet to beused as a stencil at every twelfth step given the sheet in originallyperforating it and which is easily detected by the teats on the edge ofthe slots left by the punches, by roller-marks, or measurement. Assumingthat the rack-holes have been made at either edge of the stencilsheet,by providing teeth or sprockets 55 on either end of the contact-roller45 of the contact device, so arranged as to correspond with and engageeach of the rack-holes 54 on the stencil-sheet, then when the saidroller is re volved, as by the paw1-and-ratchet mechanism 56, (shown inFig. 1,) so as to advance step by step at a rate equal to that given thepaper 5'7 being perforated, the step-bystep movement of the stencilgiven by the sprockets 55, engaging its two racks, must exactlycorrespond with the step-by-step movement originally given it whenperforated, and any inaccuracy in said original movement or inequalitiesresulting from the shrinking or stretching of the stencil after beingfirst cut will be par-taken of and equalized by the rack and sprockets.Now the cutting of the racks by hand on a ready-made stencil-sheet to beused as a stencil would prove an extremelytedious operation, althoughwhen once done it would render the sheet a perfect stencil forindefinite use; but by the addition to the perforating-machine of theextremely simple and novel mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 9 I am enabledto cut perfect racks in any sheet desired by simply moving the handle 58up ward, which instantly gives the rock-shaft 59 a partial turn andlowers the arms (30, fixed to the end thereof, and this through themedium of the colmecting-wire (31 allows the pitman 62 to lower at itsforward end and cause its slot 63 to be entered and its forward edgeengaged by the teeth or sprockets 64, set upon the lower or livefeed-roller 36, the upper or pressure roller being thrown out ofengagement therewith after the racks have reached said roller 36. Thesaid sprockets (54- are set at such distance apart as to successivelyengage and each slightly throw forward the pitman 62 about every twelfthstep, or three fifths of an inch apart, said forward movement ofthepitman '2 causing a partial revolution of the rockshaft 65 through themedium of its downwardly-projecting arm 66, to which the pitman ispivotally connected. Near the ends of said rock-shaft (35 and in linewith proposed racks 5st are provided two upwardly-projecting arms 67,pivotally connected at their upper ends with two extra draw-bars or dogs68, which engage and actuate two extra punches (not shown) inidentically the same manner as do the intervening dogs actuated by theelectromagnets. It is obvious that the rack-holes 5e produced at eitheredge of the sheet must be absolutely perfect, as they cannot fail to beequidistant and in perfect line with the other punches with which theyare lined up and are preferably made duplicates, the distinction beingthat the two rack-hole punches and dogs are operated by mechanicalmeans, while the other dogs and punches making the note-holes areactuated electrically. It will be apparent that the sprocketteeth 64:will slip out of the elongated slot 63 in the pitman (52 as thesprocket-roller 36 revolves after it has thrown the rack-punchactuatingmechanism. I also anticipate the electrical actuation of the rack-holedrawbars 68 and their punches, which could be accomplished by severalapparent modifications, one of them being to have the ends or points ofthe sprockets successively and in dependently complete an electricalcircuit through magnets arranged to actuate the dogs 68 in the same waythat they actuate the other dogs 17. I deem mechanical meanssubstantially as herein shown preferable.

When it is not desired to cut rack-holes, the mechanism therefor may beinstantly thrown out of action by simply moving the handle 68 up intoits original position.

Up to this time I have dealt with the perforation of a single sheet andgiving it a stepby-step forward movement by passing'it be tween the twofeed-rollers 36 37, which I hold is the best method of feeding a singlesheet,

but in manufacturing duplicates, in which case the perforator is undercontrol of the copying contact device and the stencil or copy passingtherethrough, it is preferable to reduce the speed of both appamtnses toabout one thousand steps per minute and run sixteen or twentythicknesses of paper through the perforator. It is only in this eventthat l have found the feed-rollers to occasionally allow some one ormore of the sixteen sheets fed thereby to work out of line with the others, and I was therefore led to conceive the endless apron feed shown inFigs. 1 and 4 to 7, inclusive. Said endless apron feed 69 consists oftwo pairs of endless sprocketchains 70 71, each pair riding upon foursprocket-wheels 72 73, each pair of wheels supported by separate shafts75 76, the rear shafts of each pair being forced to revolve in unison bytheir meshing gears 77 78, rigid with said shafts. Upon the upper rearshaft is seen red the large ratchet-wheel 79, engaged by the pawl 80,pivoted upon the slotted arm 81, and both given a slight motion by thepitman 82 sufficient to cause the pawl to revolve the ratchet-wheel onetooth at each recipro cation of the pitman 82, itself taking movemen tfrom the main shaft 16 of the perforator. Connecting the two parallellower sprocketchains 70 are four equidistant cross-plates 83,

I with end pieces 84 and provided at each end with twoontwardly-extending lugs 85, which engage and slide incorrespondingly-arranged slots 86, made in the elevated chain-plates 87,which parts normally or when the chains are straight assume thepositions shown in Fig.4; but when they curve in passing around thesprockets the distance between the slots 86 is slightly decreased andthe lugs 85, rigidly located, slide to the farther ends of the saidslots and permit the curving of the chains. Said cross-plates 83 arefurther provided at each end with two rollers 88, which ride upon thetracks 89 90 of the channel-iron 91, and thereby prevent the greatfriction which would otherwise result when the paper is clamped betweenthe upper and lower plates and propelled forward thereby. Upon the upperchains 70 are arranged cross-plates similar to those just described, buteach of which is surmounted by the spring-plates 89, having pins 90secured thereto and working through the cross-plates 84:, said pins 90being incased by the springs 91, which serve to normally keep thespring-plates S9 at their maximum distance of separation from theircrossplates 83 at all times when not engaged with the said cross-plates83 of the lower chains 71 in clamping the paper 92. This engagement orclamping of the paper occurs whenever said plates successively reach andenter the channel-iron 91, whereupon the spring-plate S9 of the upperchains is slightly compressed when it enters said channel-ironsimultaneously with its cross plate of the lower chains; but theintervening paper is clamped with sufficient force between the twoplates to cause it to be carried forward with the steplrt step movementgiven the chains by the pawl-an .iralcl1et action heretofore described,it eing obvious that one pair of clampingplates do not free themselvesin passing out of the end of the channel-iron 91 until the followingpair have taken hold or clamped the paper. To the forward edges of theupper cross-plates 83 and at either end thereof I show guides 93, whichare adjusted to guide the edges of the paper and prevent the numerousthicknesses thereof from getting uneven at their edges.

Modifications or changes other than those herein specified may be madewithout avoiding the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. In a perforating-machine the combination with adriving-shaft, a series of punches, a series of punch setting andcontrolling dogs, electrical circuits and electromagnets for actuatingsaid dogs, a series of circnit-selectors, a stencil which actnates saidcircuitselectors, a die-block over which the material to be perforatedis fed, and means for producing a relative reciprocation between thepunches and die-block, substantially as described.

2. In a perforating-machine the combination with a constantly-drivenshaft of a series of punches, a series of punch setting and controllingdogs, electric circuits and electromagnets for actuating said dogs, anelectric contact device in said circuits comprising two members, astencil which passes between the members of said device and means forfeeding the material to be perforated beneath the punches, substantiallyas described.

3. In a perforating-machine the combination with a constantly-drivenshaft, a series of punches, a die-block means for producing a relativereciprocation between the punches and die-block, a series of punchsetting and controlling dogs, electric circuits and electromagnets foractuating said dogs, an electrical contact device in said circuitscomprising two members, a stencil which passes between the members ofsaid device and means for feeding the material to be perforated beneaththe punches, substantially as described.

a. In a perforating-machine the combination with a reciprocating frameof a series of punches mounted to reciprocate in said frame, a series ofpunch setting and controlling dogs, electric circuits and electromagnetsfor actuating said dogs, an electric contact device in said circuitscomprising two members, a stencil which passes between the members ofsaid device and means for feedingthe material to be perforated beneaththe punches, substantially as described.

5. In a perforatirig-machine the combination with aconstantly-drivenshaft, a frame reciprocated thereby, a series of punches mounted in saidframe, a series of punch setting and controlling dogs, electric circuitsand electromagnets for actuating said dogs, an electric contact deviceinsaid circuits comprising two members, a stencil which passes between themembers of said device, a dieplate and die-block and means for feedingthe material to he perforated between said plate and block substantiallyas described.

6. In a perforating-machine the combination with a driving-shaft of aframe reciprocated by said shaft, a series of punches mounted in saidframe, a series of punch setting and controlling dogs carried by saidframe, electrical circuits and clectromagnets for actuatii'ig said dogsso as to throw them in operative relation to said punches, a series ofcircuit-selectors, a stencil which engages and actuates saidcircuit-selectors and a die-block over which the material to beperforated is fed, sul stantially as described.

7. In a perforating-machine the combination with a driving-shaft of aframe reciprocated by said shaft, a series of punches mounted in saidframe, a series of punch setting and controlling dogs carried by saidframe, electrical circuits and electromagncts for actuating said dogs, aroller, a series of selectors cooperating with said roller, a stencilpassing between the selectors and roller and means for feeding thematerial to be perforated beneath said punches, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a perforating-machinc, the combina tion with a driving-shaft, of aseries of perforating-punches, a series of punch setting and lockingdevices to render said perforating-punches operative, means forcontrolling theaction of said setting and locking devices, feedingmechanism to drive the paper beneath the punches, auxiliary rack-formingpunches operated from said driving-shaft, and connections between thepaper-feeding m echanism an d said auxiliary punch mechanism whcreby thelatter mechanism may be rendered operative when desired to form a rackin the edges of the sheet.

f). In a perforatirig-machine, the combination with a drivii'ig-shafnofa series ofpunohcs operated thereby, a series of punch-controlling dogsin operative relation to said punches, means for controlling the actionof said dogs, auxiliary rack-forming punches, dogs for controlling saidlast-named punches, a pair of paper-feeding rollers, one of which isprovided with a rack-wheel, connections between said rack-wheel and theauxiliary punch-controlling dogs to actuate the latter, and means forthrowing said rack-wheel connections into and out of action as desired.

10. In a perforating-machine, the combination with a driving-shaft,ofaseries of punches operated thereby, a series of punch-controlling dogsiuoperative relation to said punches, electrical means for controlling theaction of said dogs, auxiliary raclcformiug punches, dogs forcontrolling the said last. named punches, a pair of paper-feedingrollers, one of which is provided with a rack-wheel, conuections betweensaid rack-wliecl and the auxiliary puitch-controlling dogs to actuatethe latter, and means for throwing said rackwheel connections into andout of action as desired.

11. In a perforating-machine, the combination with a series of punches,of means for operating said punches, a series of electromagnets tocontrol said punches, sparlcreducing means and piano-key mechanism withwhich said magnets are in circuit, a copyholder having a contact-rollerover which the stencil passes in circuit with said punob-controllingmagnets, means for feeding said stencil, ascries of selectors whichenter the perforations in the stencil and complete the circuit throughthe contact-roller, a switch to throw the circuit through the piano-keymechanism or the copy-holder as desired, and paper-feeding mechanism tocarry the sheets to be perforated beneath the punches.

12. In an electrical perforating-machine, the combination with the punchmechanism, of a series of elcctron'iagnets to control the action of saidpunches, and a copy-holder having a contact-roller in circuit with saidmagnets over which the stencil passes, means for giving the stencil astepbystep feeding movement, a series of selectors having curved faceswhich rest upon said contactroller and complete the circuit through thepunch-controlling magnets, said selectors being of ap proximately thesame width as the punch perforations in the stencil less the length of asingle step-feeding movement of the stencil, and means for feeding thepaper beneath the punches.

13. In a perf0rating-machine, the combination with the punches and theiroperating mechanism, of paper-feeding mechanism comprising two endlessaprons moving in proximity to eachother, aseries of clamping-platesmovable to and from thesurface of said apron carried by one of saidaprons, a series of plates carried by the other apron with which saidmovable plates cooperate, and means for impartingan intermittent feedingmovement to said aprons.

1%. In a perforating-machine, the combination with the punches and theiroperating mechanism,of paper-feeding mechanism comprising two endlessaprons moving in proximity to each other, a series of spring-pressedclam ping-plates carried by one of said aprons, a series of rigid platescarried by the other apron, and means for imparting an intermittentfeeding movement to said aprons.

15. In an electrical perforatingmachine the combination with the punchesof a series of IIO circuits and electromagnets to control the selectionof said punches, primary windings for said magnets, circuit-closingdevices, sparkreducing means to reduce the sparking at thecircuit-closing devices and means whereby the spark-reducing means arerendered operative when the circuit-closing devices are opened,substantially as described.

16. In an electrical perforatingmachine the combination with the punchesofaseries of circuits and electromagnets to control the se lection ofsaid punches, primary windings for said magnets, circuit-closingdevices, sparkreducing means arranged to be thrown in circuit with saidcircuit-closing devices to re d uce the sparking at the latter, andmeans whereby the spark-reducing means are cut into circuit after theinitial action of said primary windings to reduce the sparking when thecircuit-closing devices are opened substantially as described.

17. In an electrical perforatingmachine the combination with the punchesofa series of circuits and electromaguets to control the selection ofsaid punches, primary windings for said magnets, circuit-closingdevices, sparkreducing means arranged to be thrown in series with saidcircuit -closing devices and means whereby the spark-reducing means arecut in series after the initial action of said primary windings toreduce the sparking when the circuit-closing devices are openedsubstantially as described.

18. In an electrical perforatingmachine the com bi nation with thepunches of a series of circuits and electromagnets to control theselection of said punches, primary windings For said magnets,circuit-closing devices, resistances arranged to be thrown in serieswith said circuit-closing devices and means whereby the resistances arecut into circuit after the initial action of said primary windings todecrease the flow of current through said magnets substantially asdescribed.

19. In an electrical perforating-machine the combination with thepunches and their operating mechanism of a series of circuits andelectromagnets to control the action of said punches, primary windingsfor said magnets arranged to actuate the punch-controlling devices whenenergized, electrical resistances and means whereby the resistances arecut into circuit after the initial action of said primary windings todecrease the flow of current to the magnets, substautiallyas described.

20. In an electrical perforating machine the combination with thepunches, of a series of circuits, electromagnets and circuit'closingdevices to control the action of said punches, primary windings for saidmagnets, electrical resistances and means whereby the resistances arethrown into series with the primary windings and the circuit-closingdevices after the initial action of said primary windings to preventsparking, substantially as described: 21. In an electricalperforating-machine,

the combination with the punches, a series of punch-selectors, a seriesof elect romagnets to control the action of said pui'ich-selectors, aseries of circuits including contact devices for energizing saidmngnels, a stencil and spark-rcd ucing means for reducing the spark atthe contacts at the time the contacts are opened by the stencil,substantially as described.

22. In an electrical perforatingmachine the combination \\'i[ h l hepunches ofa series of electromagnets to control the action of saidpunches, electrical resistances and mean whereby the resistances are cutinto circuit after the initial action of said magnets to decrease theflow of current through said magnets, a stencil and a series of contactdevices in circuitwith said magnets, subst-an tially as described.

In an electrical pei'toraiing-machine, the combination with the punches,a series of punch-selectors, a series of electromagnets to control theaction of said punch-selectors, a series of circuits includi g contactdevices for energizing said magnets, a stencil and means for reducingthe spark at said contact devices, substantially as described.

2%. In an electrical perforatingmachine the combination with thepunches, a series of [much-selectors, a series of elect romagi'icts tocontrol the action of said punch-selectors, a series of circuitsincluding contact devices for energizing said magnets, a stencil andmeans for reducing the currents in said circuits at the time the contactdevices are opened by the stencil to reduce the spark at the contacts,substantially as described.

25. In an electrical perforating-machine the combination with thepunches, of a series of electromagnets to control the action of saidpunches, of current-reducing devices arranged to be thrown in circuitWith the winding of said magnets and means whereby the current-reducingdevices are cut into circuit after the initial action of said magnets todecrease the l'iow of current through said magnets, a stencil and aseries of contact devices in circuit with said magnets, substantially asdescribed.

26. In an electrical perforating-machine the combination with thepunches ofa series of electromagnets to control the action of saidpunches, electric resistances, means whereby the resistances are cutinto circuit after the initial action of said magnets, to decrease theflow of current to the magnets, a stencil and a series of contactdevices in series with said magnets.

27. In an electrical perforatingmachine the combination with the punchesof a series of electromagnets to control the action of said punches,electrical resistances arranged to be thrown in series with the windingof the magnets, means whereby the resistances are cut into circuitafterthe initial action of said magnets to decrease the flow of currentthrough LIZ the magnets, a stencil and a series of contact devices inseries with said magnets, substantially as described.

28. In an electrical perforating-machine, the combination with thepunches and their operating mechanism, of a series of electromagnets tocontrol the action of said punches, said magnets havinga primary andsecondary winding, the former winding being arranged to actuate thepunch-controlling devices when energized, and means whereby thesecondary winding is cut into circuit aftgr the initial action of saidprimary winding to increase the resistance of the coil and decrease theflow of current to the electromagnets.

29. In an electrical perforating-machine, the combination with thepunches and their operating mechanism, of a series of punchcontrollingdevices, magnets for actuating said punch-controllers, said magnetsbeing provided with primary and secondary windings, said secondarywinding being of finer wire than the primary winding and lying beneaththe convolutions of the latter, and means operated by the armature whenactuated by the completion of the circuit through the primary winding tocut the secondary winding into series with said primary winding andincrease the resistance through the coil and reduce the current flowingto the magnets.

30. In an electrical perforating-machine, the combination with theperforatingpunches, of operating mechanism for said punches,paper-feeding devices to carry the paper beneath the punches, a seriesof primary magnets for controlling the action of said punches, aseriesof relay-magnets which control the circuits through said primarymagnets, and key mechanism in circuit with said relay-magnets.

31. In an electrical perforating-machinc, the combination with asericsofperforatingpunches,of means fol-operating said punches, paper-feedingdevices to carry the paper he neath said punches, a series ofpunch-actuating dogs to bring said punches into action, primary magnetscontrolling said punch-actuating dogs, a series of relz-rv-magneis whichcontrol the circuits through said primary magnets, and key mechanism incircuit with said relay-magnets, by the action of which saidrelay-magnets are energized.

In an electrical perforatirig-machine, the combination with a series ofperforatingpunches,ofmeans foro 'Jeratings-aid punches, paper-feedingdevices to carry the paper heneath said punches, a series ofpunch-actuating dogs to bring said punches into action, primary magnetscontrolling said punch-actuating dogs, a series of relay-magnets whichcontrol the circuits through said primary magnets, key mechanism incircuit with said relay-magnets, by the action of which saidrelay-magnets are energized, a copy-holder having a contact-roller overwhich a stencil passes, a series of selectors or contact-fingers restingon said contact-roller and in circuit with said relay magnets, and aswitch to throw the current through the key mechanism or thecontact-roller as desired.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I-IO'WLETT DAVIS.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK C. ALDEN, LoUIs BERNSTEIN.

